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Searching for Bobby Fischer ()


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A prepubescent chess prodigy is encouraged to harden himself in order to become a champion like the famous but unlikable Bobby Fischer.

Director:
Awards:
  • Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 6 wins & 10 nominations.
  • See more »
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Cast verified as complete

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Josh Waitzkin
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Fred Waitzkin
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Bonnie Waitzkin
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Bruce Pandolfini
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Vinnie
Michael Nirenberg ...
Jonathan Poe
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Poe's Teacher
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Kalev
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Morgan
Vasek Simek ...
Russian Park Player
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Tunafish Father
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Tournament Director
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School Teacher
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Fighting Parent
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Man of Many Signals
Chelsea Moore ...
Katya Waitzkin
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Chess Club Regular
Josh Kornbluth ...
Chess Club Regular
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Chess Club Member
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Asa Hoffman
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Reporter
Ona Fletcher ...
Reporter
Kamran Shirazi ...
Kamran Shirazi
Joel Benjamin ...
Joel Benjamin
Roman Dzindzichashvili ...
Roman Dzindzichashvili
Jerry Poe McClinton ...
Park Player
Matt De Matt ...
Night Park Player (as Matt De Matt Reines)
Vincent Smith ...
Washington Square Patzers
Jerry Rakow ...
Washington Square Patzers
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Statistician
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Journalist
R.D. Reid ...
Final Tournament Director
Anthony McGowen ...
Park Dealer
Katya Waitzkin ...
82nd Girl
Ryder Fleming-Jones ...
Petey
Harris Krofchick ...
Running Chess Kid
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Gym Parent
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Gym Parent
Caroline Yeager ...
Screaming Mom
Andrew Sardella ...
Josh's Syracuse Opponent
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Josh's Teammate
Nicholas Taylor ...
Birthday Friend
Jonathan Fazio ...
Birthday Friend
Nicky Mellina ...
Birthday Friend
Philip Neiman ...
Birthday Friend
Elizabeth Gropman ...
Birthday Friend
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
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Bobby Fischer (archiveFootage)
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Father (uncredited)
Robert Anthony Carswell ...
Parent Pacing in Locker Room (uncredited)
James Garrigan ...
Cyclist (uncredited)
Bruce Pandolfini ...
Man in Washington Park (uncredited)
Edd Scorpio ...
Chess Competitor (uncredited)
Thomas Spindler ...
Bobby's Master of Ceremonies (uncredited)
Josh Waitzkin ...
Chess Player in Washington Square (uncredited)

Directed by

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Steven Zaillian

Written by

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Fred Waitzkin ... (book)
 
Steven Zaillian ... (screenplay)

Produced by

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William Horberg ... producer
Sydney Pollack ... executive producer
Scott Rudin ... producer
David Wisnievitz ... co-producer

Music by

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James Horner

Cinematography by

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Conrad L. Hall ... director of photography

Editing by

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Wayne Wahrman

Editorial Department

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Henry J. Golas ... post-production
Debra Kahn Tolchinsky ... first assistant editor
Lynel Moore ... assistant editor (as Lynel Moore Cioffi)
Theresa Repola Mohammed ... negative cutter
Ronald Roose ... additional editor
Mike Stanwick ... color timer
Dawn M. Stoliar ... assistant editor
Pete Watson ... assistant editor (as Peter Watson)

Casting By

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Tina Gerussi
Avy Kaufman

Production Design by

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David Gropman

Art Direction by

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Gregory P. Keen

Set Decoration by

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Steve Shewchuk

Costume Design by

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Julie Weiss

Makeup Department

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Paul R.J. Elliot ... hair stylist
Linda Gill ... makeup artist
Cynthia Patton ... assistant hair stylist

Production Management

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David Coatsworth ... unit production manager
Jonathan Filley ... unit production manager
Michael Tadross ... executive in charge of production (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director

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Stuart Feldman ... dga trainee
Walter Gasparovic ... assistant director
Tony Gittelson ... assistant director
Burtt Harris ... assistant director
Grant Lucibello ... third assistant director
Juan Ros ... second second assistant director
Rose Tedesco ... second second assistant director
Stuart Williams ... trainee assistant director

Art Department

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Conrad V. Brink Jr. ... assistant props: New York
Dennis Davenport ... first assistant art director
James Halpenny ... construction coordinator
Jason Herriott ... scenic artist
Peter Hudecki ... storyboard artist
Denis Kirkham ... set dresser
Doug McLean ... assistant art director
Robert S. Smith ... carpenter
Richard M. Snider ... key greens
Mark O'Donoghue ... carpenter (uncredited)

Sound Department

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Steve Bartkowicz ... re-recording engineer
Patrick Bietz ... sound editor
Gary C. Bourgeois ... re-recording mixer
Desmond Cannon ... assistant sound editor
Paul Cartledge ... adr recordist
John Chalfant ... sound effects editor
Thierry J. Couturier ... sound editor
Ken Dufva ... foley artist
Leslie Gaulin ... foley editor
Eric Gotthelf ... foley mixer
Scott D. Jackson ... foley supervisor
Nicholas Korda ... sound editor (as Nicholas Vincent Korda)
David Lee ... sound mixer
Michael Magill ... dialogue editor
Sanjay Mehta ... cable puller
Scott Millan ... re-recording mixer
James Moriana ... foley artist
Paul O'Bryan ... assistant sound editor
Elmo Ponsdomenech ... re-recording mixer
Catherine Rowe ... foley artist
Joan Rowe ... foley artist
Beth Sterner ... supervising sound editor
Steve Switzer ... boom operator
Kimberly Lambert Gibson ... dialogue editor (uncredited)
Chuck Michael ... sound editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by

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Jason Board ... special effects
Bob Hall ... special effects
Troy Rundle ... special effects technician (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department

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Ralph Brandofino ... first assistant camera: "b" camera (1993)
Ciaran Copelin ... second assistant camera
David Crone ... steadicam operator
Dennis Gamiello ... key grip: new york
Tony Guerin ... assistant camera
Rob Hahn ... additional photographer (as Robert Hahn) / camera operator (as Robert Hahn)
Kerry Hayes ... still photographer
Nils Johnson ... key video assist operator: New York
Andy Langevin ... rigging best boy
Jim MacCammon ... gaffer (as James MacCammon)
Gary Muller ... first assistant camera: New York
Tom Priestley Jr. ... camera operator
Rick Raphael ... steadicam operator
Jim Reischl ... electric department
Ron Renzetti ... dolly grip
Gerard Sava ... assistant camera
Randy Tambling ... key grip
Gary Deneault ... best boy (uncredited)
Douglas Pellegrino ... first assistant camera (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department

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Elizabeth Holder ... wardrobe production assistant

Location Management

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Maria T. Bierniak ... assistant location manager
Fred Kamping ... location manager
Daniel Strol ... location manager: New York
Douglas Tirola ... location manager

Music Department

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Leanne Becknell ... musician: oboe
Bob Bornstein ... music preparation
Norman Ludwin ... musician: bass
Shawn Murphy ... score mixer
Thomas Pasatieri ... orchestrator
James Thatcher ... musician: French horn
Robert Adcock ... musician: cello (uncredited)
Murray Adler ... musician: violin (uncredited)
Dale Anderson ... musician: percussion (uncredited)

Script and Continuity Department

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Mimi Wolch ... script supervisor

Transportation Department

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Dave Marwick ... production driver
William L. Tataryn ... driver: Sir Ben Kingsley
Robert Tenaglia ... transportation captain

Additional Crew

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Alexis Alexanian ... production coordinator
Brandon Camp ... assistant: Mr. Rudin
Robert Dawson ... title designer
David Hummel ... production assistant
Michelle L. Keiser ... production assistant
Lisa Medwid ... assistant: Mr. Horberg
Veronica Miller ... first assistant accountant
Eric Myers ... unit publicist
Donna Ostroff ... assistant: Mr. Pollack
Mike Thompson ... assistant: Mr. Rudin
D. Gregor Hagey ... production assistant (uncredited)
Jim McCarthy ... production accountant (uncredited)
Lisa Wilhoit ... additional voices (uncredited)

Thanks

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Pal Benko ... the producers wish to thank: United States Chess Federation
Harry Benson ... the producers wish to thank: Harry Benson Photography
Sandra Johnson ... the producers wish to thank: Ontario Film Development
Svetozar D. Jovanovic ... the producers wish to thank: United States Chess Federation
Patrick Lewis ... the producers wish to thank: United States Chess Federation
Albert Maysles ... the producers wish to thank: Maysles Films
Bruce Pandolfini ... special thanks
Hanon Russell ... the producers wish to thank: The Dalton School
Bonnie Waitzkin ... special thanks
Fred Waitzkin ... special thanks
Josh Waitzkin ... special thanks
Katya Waitzkin ... special thanks

Production Companies

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Distributors

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Special Effects

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Other Companies

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Storyline

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Plot Summary

Josh Waitzkin is just a typical American boy interested in baseball when one day he challenges his father at chess and wins. Showing unusual precocity at the outdoor matches at Washington Square in New York City, he quickly makes friends with a hustler named Vinnie who teaches him speed chess. Josh's parents hire a renowned chess coach, Bruce, who teaches Josh the usefulness of measured planning. Along the way Josh becomes tired of Bruce's system and chess in general and purposely throws a match, leaving the prospects of winning a national championship in serious jeopardy. Written by Rick Gregory

Plot Keywords
Taglines Every journey begins with a single move. See more »
Genres
Parents Guide View content advisory »
Certification

Additional Details

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Also Known As
  • Innocent Moves (India, English title)
  • Innocent Moves (United Kingdom)
  • À la recherche de Bobby Fischer (France)
  • Das Königsspiel (Germany)
  • Das Königsspiel - Ein Meister wird geboren (Germany)
  • See more »
Runtime
  • 109 min
Country
Language
Color
Aspect Ratio
Sound Mix
Filming Locations

Box Office

Budget $12,000,000 (estimated)

Did You Know?

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Trivia Max Pomeranc was chosen because he is, in real life, a chess player (or was at the time of this movie). The producers wanted someone who would be at ease and "correctly" playing chess. None of this movie's other stars played chess in the beginning, but eventually Joe Mantegna learned. See more »
Goofs Josh tells Vinnie he learned the "Schliemann Attack" from his teacher. Actually there's no such thing. It's the Schliemann Defense. Also, when Vinnie asks, "What's that?" referring to the "attack," Josh actually hasn't yet made the move that would prompt him to say this, he's just playing the opening move of the standard Ruy Lopez (1. ... e5), so there'd be no reason for Vinnie to say "What's that?" at that point. The move that makes it "Schliemann" (3. ...f5) hasn't yet been played. See more »
Movie Connections Featured in Rising Sun/Tom and Jerry: The Movie/Robin Hood: Men in Tights/So I Married an Axe Murderer/Searching for Bobby Fischer (1993). See more »
Soundtracks Enough Is Enough See more »
Quotes Josh: Maybe it's better not to be the best. Then you can lose and it's OK.
See more »

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